Customer Reviews

Jewelry Making: Tips and Tricks of the Trade

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've now read every introductory jewelry making book I can find as well as most of the ones for experts. This book is by far and away the best. The projects are explained well and most of them are quite easy to complete & very pretty.

The author also shows you how to make a couple of really useful tools (from standard hardware) -- the best being the wire bending jig (there are commercial versions of this jig -- two brand names I've found and "Wig Jig" and "Thing-a-ma Jig") He then proceeds to use these hand-made tools in various projects. My favorite of these projects is the "bending jig ring" -- great stuff -- can't wait to make one for my wife.

The *only* nit that I have is all the wire and sheet measurements are in mm. This is understandable since the book was written and originally published in England. However, if they're gonna take the time to republish it in the US, they should have at least given a cross-reference table (mm-ga).

Anyway, HIGHLY recommended for the beginning jewelry student. If you can't get it from Amazon (currently listed as out of print with 1 used one available), check the website of the publisher (Krause publications -- www.krause.com).

I just thumbed through this book in the store and decided to grab it because of the wide scope of information it covered. When I got it home, I read through it more attentively and found a wealth of information on how to get started making unique and remarkable jewelry, well beyond stringing beads! The author covers first the tools, even ways to make your own to start out with to save on start up costs. He then goes into materials. Then starts with an introduction into some very basic processes (like soldering, polishing, etc.). And from then on, introduces techniques and tricks in the form of creative projects. He even talks a bit about the design process and gives tips on things that have helped him (keeping a design journal and a scrapbook of pieces that inspire you).

Fabulous book! I would recommend it as a perfect starting point to anyone looking to begin artisan jewelry making!

This book is really excellent for a beginner (and others) - it shows complete jewellery making projects (wearable jewellery!) and all the steps necessary to make them, with lots of pictures, everything well explained.

This book is another must have for everybody in the metalsmithing/jewelry art metal area of interest. Covers the tools in depth and also has a number of do it yourself tools and shop helps that once you use them. They will more than pay for the cost many times over. Track this one down if you have to. Clear and concise descriptions, great photo's. I own it and refer to it a lot.It will also get you to start thinking about what other tools or tooling you can make in your shop.

As a beginner you must have this book. I bought it while taking a Jewelry I class. My classmates were totaly amazed at what I could do. They all started searching for their own copy. I found this book so helpful with techniques and tools, terms and meanings. It covers all the projects that a beginner would take in a class. I also own a copy of Tim McCreight's "The Complete Metalsmith." The small book. It's all that I have needed since I began. I've already made a handful of projects already. See my Pink Tourmaline ring in the user photos above. This book will never be a waste of time and money.

I completed the first two projects in this book in a weekend-beautiful rings. Wonderful projects with excellent instruction. I am a beginner and this made me feel so accomplished. I enjoy this book very much and will use it over and over!

Several others have stated that this is a great beginners book and yes, if you have some knowledge of metal and how to manipulate it or are just inituitive with tools and metal. That being said, I would classify it as a beginner to intermediate level jewelry design book that is very handy and has helped me when selecting the appropriate tools when I started out working with metal in 2006.

The author first goes over the basic tools required and he knows how costly jewelry making tools can be. So the recommendations are sound and worthy to follow for the beginner. The "Getting Started" section is followed by various lessons to properly learn followed by one or more projects to make utilizing these lessons. Some lessons/projects build upon others, while some are stand alone. Each lesson and project have enough written information with appropriate images (color photos) to help when YOU are doing it for yourself. It would have been nice to have this book in a spirally-bound binding. I do feel that if you master each lesson in this book, you are definitely well on your way to becoming an expert in jewelry making for the confidence you can gain from this books organization is that strong. This type of organization is just like having an instructor working with you.
The DESIGN section (only a few pages, unfortunately, in the first section of the book) give you sound suggestions when you are in the process of developing/designing your own pieces. Unfortunately there is NO information on the safety issues involved (I am big on safety...too much training in my former careers - but necessary) and that is a big mark against this book - hence 4 stars.

I believe the book's best quotes to sum up how I feel about it is: "We learn by doing!....Always practice on base metals first before turning to precious metals to make your final jewelry piece." (page 21) This is how the book is organized and for those that cannot find a local instructor, use this book.

If you've been a little hesitant about branching into metal work, this is just the tool to boost your confidence. I took a metalsmithing class 2 years ago with every intention of getting started right after the class was over. Didn't happen. Was petrified about investing the effort until I found this book in a craft store a few months ago. This book explains procedures so well and the projects seem so "possible" that I have already purchased or made most of the tools, purchased the precious metals and have my uncle making me a bench. The explanations and photos are clear and easy to understand. The only (and it is the only one) thing that could improve the book is a conversion of mm to gauge.

A very nice book with relatively simple metalworking techniques that have been well photographed and explained. A pretty good primer for anyone that is interested in true metalsmithing. The projects are easy to follow and are useful. Overall a good read.

I pour over this book again and again and I learn something new each time. The projects are really good and I'm much more inspired to work with wire since I bought this.